Untamed (22 page)

“I have to agree,” Clint said from the doorway.

Ellie looked around again and finally back to Alex. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, honey.”

“Tell me what you saw or sensed. Tell me about my father.”

Alex smiled. “Okay, I get it. A test?”

“Oh no! No!” Ellie gave Alex’s hand a squeeze. “It’s just that I haven’t seen him since I was very young and…and…”

“It’s okay.” Alex said. “He’s a big man. Tall and brawny sort of. Black hair. Really black, like yours. And blue eyes. He smells like Camel cigarettes and clove gum. He likes dark ales rather than beer, and loves to sing. Painting is—was one of his passions. That was the only way to lose himself and escape the pain.”

“What pain?” Ellie asked.

“Of losing you. Your mother. All of you. His entire family gone. Taken from him.”

“I wasn’t taken from him.”

Alex looked over Ellie’s shoulder. “As good as. If he hadn’t left you with your grandmother, you might have been taken. It was the only safe place for you. He hid you from the Dark Fae by leaving you with one of their own.”

“Dark Fae?”

“Light and Dark. There are people of both everywhere,” Alex replied. “Your father was Light. Your mother Dark. That’s why her family exiled her. She chose the Light.”

“Enough,” Ellie said. She released Alex’s hand. “Thank you. I mean that. But I—am I dreaming this? Am I still in that hospital having some kind of medicated hallucination or dream? This just can’t be real.”

“But it is,” Teddy said softly. “And you have to finish what you started, Ellie.”

“Which is?”

“Take the scroll home. Recite the words and see what happens. I think…” She looked at Alex. “I think there’s someone looking for you. Someone important to you.”

“Yes,” Alex agreed. “Do what she said, Ellie. It’s the only way to know for sure.”

Ellie turned to Cam. “What do you think?”

“I think you need to do what’s right for you. And whatever that is, I’m with you.”

She nodded then looked around at everyone else. “Thank you. So much. I’m in your debt and if there’s ever anything I can do to repay your kindness, all you have to do is say, and I’ll do it. No matter what it is.”

Mik got up and gave her a kiss on the top of the head. “How are you at washing potatoes? I was thinking that maybe we should have a cookout. Steaks on the grill, potatoes, some fresh green beans and if I can talk Teddy into it, a fresh apple pie for dessert.”

“I am a most excellent potato washer,” Ellie said with a grateful smile. “And if Teddy doesn’t want to be bothered, my grandmother did teach me how to make one heck of an apple pie.”

“You’re hired,” Mik said and headed for the kitchen, spouting orders. “Jed, you and the guys make a beer run, fire up the grill and clean off the picnic tables. Oh and how about cleaning out the fire pit and bringing in a fresh load of wood. We can have a fire, it’s gonna be cool enough.

“Teddy, you and Alex help me and Ellie. Make some tea, find the tablecloths…”

Ellie looked at Cam to see him smiling as Mik’s voice kept going. “It’s going to be okay, honey.” He said softly. “Whatever you decide, we’ll face it together.”

“I love you,” she replied.

“And I love you. Now, let’s kick back for tonight, okay?”

She nodded. Being here, surrounded by good people with the promise of good food and company, Ellie relaxed and enjoyed the welcome respite from her worries.

* * * * *

Ellie climbed aboard the plane and pulled out her phone. She wished she’d brought her digital camera with her, but since she had not, she’d taken a ton of photos of the cookout with her phone.

Strangely, after having known them for only a day, she felt she was leaving behind friends when she said goodbye to Mik, Teddy and Alex, as well as Jed, Jake and Jesse.

Ellie smiled as she looked at the photos. She was happy to hear Clint, Colton, and Cam talking on the way to the airport about helping Jed and his family out. She wasn’t sure of the details but from the way it sounded, it was going to be something of a business relationship, which was the only thing Jed would agree to.

She had been surprised that Colton had announced he was going to Florida with them. He said he needed to visit with his brothers for a while and now was a good a time as any. Besides, he wanted to talk to a couple of the breeders in Florida about some horses, as he was serious about expanding his program.

Cam took a seat beside her and she leaned her head against his shoulder. That’s the last thing she remembered until he shook her to tell her they were landing. The moment they arrived back at the ranch everyone got busy with chores. She volunteered to help and Lily put her to work mucking out stalls.

Ellie didn’t mind. She needed something to do. If she just sat around, she’d obsess about what Alex and Teddy had told her and about getting back to the secret house. That’s what she really wanted to do but Cam had made her promise she wouldn’t go alone.

She spent most of the afternoon in the barn. As she was finishing she met Cam on his way to the barn. “I’m starting to get hungry.” He said.

“I know Lily’s busy. I could fix dinner.”

“She’d probably appreciate that. I know I would.”

“Okay, great. What should I fix?”

“Just rumble around in the pantry and freezer and fix whatever’s available.”

“On it as soon as I get a shower.”

Cam grinned. “Want some help with that?”

Ellie laughed. “I’d love it, but then we probably wouldn’t get any dinner.”

He chuckled and grabbed her for a quick kiss. “Okay, rain-check on that. Clint, Colt, and I should be done in an hour or so. Just gonna move some stock from the western pasture.”

“Ok. Tell Lily I’ll have dinner ready.”

“Will do.” He gave her another kiss and hurried into the barn.

Ellie went to the garage apartment, showered and got dressed then made her way to the main house. There were pork chops in the freezer and plenty of canned vegetables in the pantry. She got busy cooking.

Less than an hour later, she was taking biscuits out of the oven when Clint and Colton walked in.

“Where’s Lily?” Clint asked.

“I thought she was working in the breeding barn?”

“Still?”

Ellie set the pan of biscuits on top of the range and turned to him. “I don’t know. Want me to go check?”

“No, I’ll go get her.”

“Get who?” Cam asked as he walked in.

“Lily.”

“I’ll go with you,” Colton offered.

“Oh. Well make tracks bros.” Cam said. “I’m starving.”

As Clint and Colton headed out, Cam turned to Ellie. “That smells good.”

“Let’s hope it tastes that way.”

He reached for her hand and pulled her to him. “I kinda like this.”

“What?”

“Finding you in the kitchen at the end of the day.”

“You mean you like having someone cook for you?”

“No, I mean having you waiting for me. I could get used to this.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

His kiss silenced everything but thoughts of how much she wished life were like this. Her and Cam together, starting and ending their days together.

“She’s gone!” The anguish they heard in Clint’s voice had them breaking apart.

“What?” Cam asked.

Clint held up a phone. “This is all I found.”

“Where could she have gone?” Ellie asked. “Are any of the trucks missing?”

“No. And all the horses are accounted for.”

“I’ll call it in,” Cam said and reached for his phone. At that same moment, Ellie’s phone rang.

They all looked at it, lying on the table. The screen lit with an ‘Unknown’ caller ID. She looked at Cam.

“Answer it.”

Ellie punched the answer icon and then the speaker button. “Hello?”

“If you want your friend to live, you’ll come to the Whitehorse place. Alone. Anyone comes with you, she dies. The police show up, she dies. You’ve got half an hour, or she dies.”

The call ended. Ellie looked at Cam. “I have to go.”

“Not alone.”

“You heard him, Cam! If I’m not alone—”

“I said no. You drop Clint, Colton and me off on the main road. We’ll work our way through the woods. No one will know we’re there. You just wait five minutes before you turn in.”

“But—”

“But nothing. We’re going.”

With that, Cam and his brothers headed for the back room where the gun cabinet was located. Five minutes later, they were all crammed in Ellie’s truck, headed for her father’s place.

Ellie was so nervous, her hands were shaking on the steering wheel. She stopped just shy of the drive into her father’s property. “We won’t let anyone get hurt,” Cam said. “I promise. Just give us five minutes and then go in.”

“I’m scared.” It didn’t make her feel any better to admit it.

“I know. We all are. But if we work together, we’ll be fine. I need you to be strong, okay? Just go in and ask what they want. See if you can stall, ask them to release Lily. Make sure she’s okay and try to bargain with them. We’ll be there. We won’t let anyone hurt either of you. I need you to trust me.”

“I do.”

“That’s my girl.” He gave her a quick kiss. Then he and his brothers got out of the truck and disappeared into the thick growth that bordered the property.

Ellie pulled out her phone and watched the seconds tick by. When five minutes had passed, she made the turn onto the driveway.

There were two black cars parked in front of the house. Two men guarded each car, one on either side. She pulled up behind the last car, killed the engine, and got out.

“Where’s Lily?” She asked loudly. “I want to see her.”

One of the men, a big man built like a tank walked over to her, brandishing a gun. “Let’s go.”

Ellie prayed that Cam and his brothers were watching. Her legs were shaking so hard she felt like a walking marionette. The man gestured toward the back of the second car. She stopped when she reached it and looked at the man she now thought of as Tank.

“Where’s Lily?”

Tank gestured to his partner, a short wiry man with a rat face. “Open it.”

Rat face reached inside the car and a moment later the trunk opened. “Lily!” Ellie nearly dove into the trunk when she saw Lily inside it, bound and gagged. But Tank grabbed her by the hair on the back of her head and yanked her back.

“Let go!” Ellie screamed and reached up to dig her fingernails into his hand and wrist. “Let go of me!”

He yelped as her fingernails broke skin. “Fucking bitch!” He raised his other hand, the one holding the gun. Ellie slammed her eyes closed, expecting the blow. But another voice rang out and the man holding her stilled.

“Enough.”

Her eyes flew open. Tank released her and stepped back but kept the gun trained on her.

Simon Dansforth stood beside the opened back door of the car, with Rat Face holding the door.

“There is no need for violence,” he said.

“Then let Lily go,” Ellie insisted.

“In good time, my dear. First you will take me to the treasure.”

Ellie thought of the scroll and the box with the egg in it that was still in her shoulder bag in the truck. She didn’t know why she hadn’t taken those things out when they returned home and now wished she had. But what if giving those things to Dansforth was the only way to save Lily?

That question prompted a decision. Lily’s life was more important. Even if she never uncovered the truth about those items or her father, she couldn’t risk Lily’s life. But maybe there was a way to protect Lily and herself. If she could get to the secret house maybe she’d be safe.

“Fine.” With her mind made up, she screwed up her courage. “I’ll take you. But only if you move Lily out of that trunk. You can tie her up in the house but I’m not budging until then.”

Simon’s eyes met hers and for a few moments they engaged in a stare-down. Ellie refused to blink or let her gaze flicker. She had to show him she meant business. Finally, he nodded. With his eyes still locked with hers, he spoke to his men. “Move her into the house. Make sure she’s secure.”

“And don’t hurt her,” Ellie said.

“Do not harm her,” Simon added.

The men got Lily out of the trunk and took her to the house. As they had no key, they simply kicked the door in. Only a few minutes passed before the men came back outside.

“I have honored my part of the arrangement,” Simon said. “Now it’s your turn.”

“I need to see that Lily’s okay.”

He gestured toward the house and spoke to his men. “Accompany her.”

Tank and Rat Face accompanied her. She found Lily tied up in the kitchen to one of the old wooden chairs. She went to Lily and hugged her. “Clint, Cam, and Colton are out there. They’ll be here soon. Just hang on.”

Lily was trying to talk around the gag but Ellie ignored her and left the house. She went to her truck and got her bag and keys. She’d need those to get into the secret house.